The Academic Cost of Smoking: A Study on Learners’ Smoking Habits and School Performance

Abstract

Smoking is considered a significant public health and educational concern, with tobacco use contributing to millions of deaths annually. This study aimed to examine the smoking habits and academic performance of senior high school learners at Banate National High School, Banate, Iloilo, during the school year 2022-2023. Specifically, it investigated the daily cigarette consumption of respondents based on age, sex, and family income and explored whether a significant relationship exists between smoking habits and academic performance. The study employed a purposive sampling technique, with 30 smoker learners as respondents. Data were collected through a validated researcher-made survey questionnaire, with frequency counts and assigned scales used for descriptive statistics, while the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied for inferential analysis. The findings revealed variations in smoking habits among the respondents. Ages 18-19 had the highest cigarette consumption, and all respondents were male. Smoking prevalence was most common among learners from lower-income families. However, statistical analysis indicated no significant relationship between smoking habits and academic performance. Based on these findings, the study recommends promoting extracurricular activities, conducting anti-smoking campaigns, and implementing remedial classes to support learners. The results of this study will serve as a basis for the preparation of a school policy on learners' discipline, particularly regarding smoking prevention and intervention strategies. Future research should explore comparative studies between smoker and non-smoker learners and extend the study to junior high school students.